News
Rothkoff NJ Elder Care Symposium Postponed to October 8, 2020
Due to COVID-19, the NJ Elder Care Symposium has been postponed until October 8, 2020. On the original Symposium date, April 30, 2020, we will be holding a virtual town forum on the impact of COVID-19 on the long-term care community. More information to follow. We want to thank the following sponsors for their participation, patience and support of our 3rd annual New Jersey Elder Care Symposium. Individual tickets can be purchased by visiting https://rothkofflaw.com/symposium/. Thank you to all of our 2020 NJ Sponsors and Exhibitors.
We Love (Virtual) Hugs
As of this writing, March 21, 2020, due to COVID-19, both New Jersey and Pennsylvania have stay at home orders in place. Additionally, each state has ordered “non-essential” businesses to close, requiring all “non-essential” businesses to work remotely. As much as I feel our elder care law services are essential, we are abiding by all local, state, and federal guidelines and orders. I hope, as we all do, that when you are reading this, the situation will have dramatically improved, and we can all return to our normal lives. However, two things that did not change – the needs our [...]
Rothkoff Law Receives Elder Law Awards for 2019
Rothkoff Law Group is proud to announce that Jerold E. Rothkoff and Bryan J. Adler were named as “Awesome Attorneys” for elder law by South Jersey Magazine in its December 2019 edition. Additionally, Jerry Rothkoff has been named a 2020 “Super Lawyer” in elder law by Super Lawyers Magazine for the tenth consecutive year, and Bryan Adler has been named a 2020 “Rising Star Super Lawyer” for the third consecutive year. The Super Lawyer designation is given to only 5% of lawyers in the United States.
Rothkoff 2019 PA Caregiver Award
Rothkoff Law Group announced the 2019 Pennsylvania Caregiver Award winner at its second annual PA Elder Care Symposium on October 24, 2019. Caregiver professionals throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania had the opportunity to nominate an outstanding caregiver in their community who offers exceptional service to an elderly person. The selection process was difficult with many heartfelt nominations of worthy caregivers. We congratulate Reynaldo Aviso of Reliant At Home Care as the 2019 PA Caregiver Award winner. We appreciate all of the support and the valuable participation of our speakers, sponsors, and attendees. We look forward to seeing you at our 2020 NJ [...]
Life Lessons From Two Decades Advocating for Seniors
On February 1, 2000, I began a journey to an unknown destination. On this day twenty years ago, I opened my elder care law office. If you were to tell me twenty years later we would expand to six offices in NJ and PA, employ thirty team members, including five attorneys and six geriatric social workers, establish groundbreaking elder care symposiums in NJ & PA, receive numerous awards and recognition for our firm’s advocacy for seniors, and teach other attorneys across the United States how to engage in legal advocacy for seniors, I would not have believed it. Last month, [...]
2020 Elder Law Numbers
2020 Medicare Numbers The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the new Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-payments for 2020: Basic Part B premium:...............................................$144.60/month (was $135.50 in 2019) Part B deductible:...................................................... $198 ($185.00 in 2019)Part A deductible:......................................................$1,408 (was $1,364 in 2019)Co-payment for hospital stay days 61-90:................. $352/day (was $341 in 2019)Co-payment for hospital stay days 91-150:................ $704/day (was $682 in 2019) All costs for each day beyond 150 daysSkilled nursing facility co-payment, days 21-100:.... $176/day (was $170.50 in 2019) Also, note that individuals with annual incomes over $87,000 and married couples with annual incomes over $174,000 will pay [...]
Bryan Adler and Jerold Rothkoff Named 2017 Awesome Attorneys
We are honored that South Jersey Magazine has named Bryan Adler and Jerold Rothkoff to its 2017 Awesome Attorneys list. Rothkoff Law Group was the only South Jersey Elder Care Law Firm to have two attorneys named to the prestigious list for Elder Law.
Pixar’s Coco Reveals the Importance of Remembering Family Members
Over Thanksgiving weekend, my family and I saw the new Pixar movie, Coco. The result of which is now I recall crying watching two animated Pixar films. Up, my all-time favorite Pixar movie, and now Coco. Like so many Pixar films before it, Coco indulges the belief that kids know best, while it’s up to adults to come around. In the case of Coco, a misunderstood child attempts to convince his family of humble shoemakers to allow him to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing the guitar. Only trouble is, the child’s family has forbidden any form of music in their household for the past [...]
The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Explained
Who knew that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is one of only twenty United States jurisdictions which collect a state death tax? For the Pennsylvania resident decedent, regardless of whether the beneficiaries live in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, or Delaware Counties, or beyond the borders of the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Inheritance tax will likely impact any inheritance. In this blog, The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Explained, we answer eight of the most commonly asked questions. 1. I already filed the decedent’s taxes on April 15th. Why do I need to file a Pennsylvania REV-1500? Comparing income taxes to state death taxes is like [...]
“Granny Pods” Allow Your Aging Parents to Live in Your Backyard
Are Granny Pods the solution to helping our parents live on their own and have supervision simultaneously? AARP estimates that about 23 million Americans take care of their elderly parents. Many wish to “age in place,” however living on their own may not be an option and may cause anxiety and guilt for some families. Some adult children are willing to welcome grandma or grandpa into their own homes but may not have the space. If you are considering inviting mom or dad to live with you but lack space there are options, both temporary and permanent. Have you seen [...]
What are the Different Types of Caregivers?
Looking to procure a caregiver for a loved one? Between deciding amongst the myriad of home care agencies and selecting the appropriate type of attendant, hiring a private caregiver can feel overwhelming. Here we break down the different types of caregivers to assist you in your search. There are several different types of caregivers who provide services to older adults and individuals with disabilities and age-related medical conditions. Family members often take on the role of primary caregiver for a loved one while receiving no financial reimbursement, but when that role is no longer feasible, a person becomes faced with [...]
Bryan Adler Becomes a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA)
I am pleased to announce that one of our Attorneys, Bryan Adler, attained the designation of Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) certifies attorneys in the area of Elder Law and is the only organization approved by the American Bar Association to offer such a certification. The CELA designation is awarded only to attorneys focusing their practice in elder law who demonstrate their expertise by passing a rigorous national certifying examination and by verifying their involvement in complex elder law matters. An attorney with the CELA designation must meet the following criteria: Licensed to practice in [...]
Comparison of New Jersey and Pennsylvania Medicaid Eligibility Rules
Our elder and disability law office has offices in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Therefore, it is common for a family to consult with our office that has a parent residing in Pennsylvania, and a child in New Jersey, or vice versa. In many of these cases, the family is inquiring about what state they should look to for the potential placement of their loved one in a long-term care setting. Our job is to analyze their assets, income, medical needs, and the family’s goals to recommend whether New Jersey or Pennsylvania is the better long-term care setting. Below we [...]
New Jersey CARE Act Signed by Governor Christie to Assist Family Caregivers
Last week, Governor Christie signed into law the New Jersey CARE Act, which will benefit caregivers and their families. The CARE Act is an acronym for Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable. The law will go into effect 180 days after the governor signed the law. The New Jersey CARE Act addresses the problems family members have when their loved one is discharged from the hospital. Often, a patient requires follow-up that family members are not trained to provide. For example, there may be a need to change dressings, monitor medication, or provide personal care, in which an adult child or spouse [...]
Rothkoff Law Group Welcomes Bryan Adler, Associate Attorney
We are pleased to welcome the addition of Bryan Adler, as an Associate Attorney, to our elder law office. Bryan was previously associated with an elder law office in Bucks County, PA. Bryan, a native of central Pennsylvania, lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife, Stefanie, and their daughter, Addison. Bryan will be working in our Trevose, PA, and Center City Philadelphia offices serving our Pennsylvania clients and their caregivers. Bryan can be reached at bryan@rothkoff.j2test.com.
